System and method for non-mechanical information handling system product badge orientation

ABSTRACT

A product badge coupled to a product, such as an information handling system, displays product information to align with a selected of plural product orientations by illuminating a first display material to present the product information in a first orientation associated with a first product orientation and a second display material to present the product information in a second orientation associated with a second product orientation. For instance, illumination by a backlight presents the product information in the first orientation by interacting with the first display material, and suspension of illumination by the backlight presents the product information in the second orientation by allowing reflective light to interact with the second display material. Selection of illumination is automatically or manually accomplished. In one embodiment, a portable information handling system display backlight illuminates the badge when power is applied to the display to automatically alter the display orientation based on display lid position and display use.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/890,017,filed Jul. 13, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,575, entitled “System andMethod for Non-Mechanical Information Handling System Product BadgeOrientation” and naming David F. Hutchinson, Charles D. Hood, Randall T.Smith as inventors, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of informationhandling system product badges, and more particularly to a system andmethod for non-mechanical adjusting of product badge orientation tomatch information handling system orientation.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Information handling systems have become fixtures in many homes andbusinesses, fitting into a variety of physical locations having variousspace constraints. Desktop, tower and server information handlingsystems are often placed in a variety of orientations depending upon thespace available in a given area of use and other factors, such as theproximity of power and network connections. As a result, informationhandling system manufacturers have designed information handling systemsto reliably operate regardless of orientation, such as horizontal orvertical orientations. Indeed, information handling system manufacturersoften include stands that support a given information handling system indifferent orientations so that a user may securely place the informationhandling system in a desired orientation with reduced risk of damagefrom falling over. Thus, for instance, desktop information handlingsystems that are generally designed to rest horizontally on a desk areoften instead placed in a vertical orientation under a desk.

One difficulty with the different orientations used with informationhandling systems is that product badges that identify the manufacturerbrand, model or other information are typically affixed to the outersurface of the information handling system in a single orientation. If aproduct badge is affixed to appear upright with a horizontalorientation, then the badge will appear sideways when the informationhandling system rests in a vertical orientation, and vise versa. Productbadges typically carry brand logos that identify the manufacturer of theinformation handling system. Brand logos are typically used to build anidentity for the user of the information handling system with themanufacturer on the brand, such as by associating a positive userexperience with the manufacturer. For instance, to enhance the effect ofthe brand appearance, information handling systems sometimes utilize alogo on a backlit transflective film that appears bright when power isapplied to the backlight, such as by illuminating a logo with a displaylight when the display is powered. Such film applications are similar totransflective films on automotive dashboards that used to provide awarning light or other icon by illuminating a backlight behind the film.The appearance of the logo in different orientations interferes with thebuilding of brand identity.

One recent innovation for realigning information handling system productbadges uses mechanical movement of the product badge to match theorientation of the information handling system, such as is disclosed inU.S. patent application Ser. No._(——————), entitled “InformationHandling System Product Badge Orientation System and Method,” filed on_(——————)by David J. Hernandez, Pedro M. Alfonso, Bradley Jackson andKenneth Musgrave, and assigned to Dell_(——————). However, suchmechanical systems generally take more space than conventional productbadges and are sometimes prone to failure due to breakage of mechanicalcomponents. The size of the badge orientation system is a considerationfor its inclusion in smaller information handling systems, such asportable information handling systems. Failure of mechanical componentsis also a consideration in portable systems that are frequently moved tovarious orientations. For instance, a product badge on the outer surfaceof a portable information handling system lid that appears upright to auser with the lid in the closed position will appear upside down oncethe lid is opened to expose a display on the inner surface of the lid.Portable information handling systems are subject to frequent lidactuation so that a mechanical system incorporated in the lid to alterthe product badge orientation would have to have substantial durabilityto avoid failure after multiple actuations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method whichnon-mechanically alters the orientation of an information handlingsystem product badge.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems for coupling a productbadge to an information handling system. A product badge activatesnon-mechanically to present product information of a product badge indesired orientations based on the product's orientation.

More specifically, a product badge support fixedly couples to a productsurface, such as at the outer surface of an information handling systemhousing, to present product information, such as a manufacturer logo oridentification number, at selectable orientations. A firsttransreflective material presents the product information in oneorientation with light that reflects through the front of the productbadge and a second transflective material presents product informationin another orientation with illumination from a backlight that alsosuppresses display by the first transreflective material. The backlightis selectively powered so that the backlit transflective material isilluminated when the product orientation aligns with the orientation ofthe product information presented by the backlight material. Selectivepower application is performed by an orientation selector, such as amount switch, a tilt switch or a manual interface. Alternatively, thebacklight is supplied by an existing lighting system of the product,such as the backlight of a portable information handling system LCDpanel display.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is thatproduct badge orientation is automatically and non-mechanically adjustedto various orientations of the product. Information handling systemproduct brand logo orientation matches information handling systemorientation to improve appearance and build user identity with amanufacturer brand. The use of visual effects to orient a product badgewith a product reduces or eliminates the need for mechanical movement tothe product badge for reduced space use and reduced risk of mechanicalfailure of moving components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts an information handling system in a horizontal desktoporientation;

FIG. 2 depicts an information handling system in a vertical towerorientation;

FIG. 3 depicts a product badge having product information displayed inbacklit or reflective orientations based upon selective illumination ofa backlight;

FIG. 4 depicts a portable information handling system in a closedposition;

FIG. 5 depicts a portable information handling system in an openposition; and

FIG. 6 depicts a product badge selectively illuminated with a portableinformation handling system LCD panel light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Non-mechanical orientation of an information handling system productbadge aligns product information presented by the badge for a desiredappearance with different information handling system orientations. Forpurposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may includeany instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable tocompute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an informationhandling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, orany other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance,functionality, and price. The information handling system may includerandom access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as acentral processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic,ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components ofthe information handling system may include one or more disk drives, oneor more network ports for communicating with external devices as well asvarious input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, anda video display. The information handling system may also include one ormore buses operable to transmit communications between the varioushardware components.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a top perspective view of an informationhandling system 10 is depicted in a horizontal desktop configuration.For instance, information handling system 10 is a desktop system adaptedto rest on a user's desktop underneath a monitor with the outer housing12 protecting processing components, such as processors and memory, thatprocess information for display to a user. However, as is depicted byFIG. 2, information handling system 10 is also adapted to rest in avertical tower configuration supported in a mount 14. In the horizontalconfiguration, a product badge 16 having the “DELL” logo is displayed toalign in a horizontal appearance. However, if information handlingsystem 10 is rotated to a vertical configuration as depicted by FIG. 2without rotating product badge 16, the logo of product badge 16 wouldalso rotate to a vertical appearance that disrupts the intendedappearance of the logo. Similarly, a product badge 16, depicted in FIGS.1 and 2 at the front of information handling system 10 but usuallylocated at the rear, rotates from horizontal to vertical appearances tomake the identification number or other product information on productbadge 16 more difficult to read. Automated non-mechanical rotation ofthe orientation of product information displayed by product badge 16allows an upright appearance of the product information that adapts tochanges in the orientation of information handling system 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of a product badge 16 isdepicted that automatically and non-mechanically alters the orientationof displayed product information to align with the orientation of aproduct. A product badge housing 18 fixedly couples at its back surfacewith the outer housing surface 12 of information handling system 10 andpresents product information, such as the “DELL” logo, at its frontsurface in one of two product information orientations. As depicted byFIG. 1, the logo is displayed with a horizontal orientation wheninformation handling system 10 is in the horizontal desktop orientation.As depicted by FIG. 2, the logo remains displayed with the horizontalorientation when information handling system 10 is in the vertical towerorientation by rotating the orientation of the product informationrelative to the orientations of product badge 16 and informationhandling system 10. Referring again to FIG. 3, the different productinformation display orientations are provided by a front-locatedtransreflective display material 20, a back-located transflectivedisplay material 22 and selective powering of a backlight 24. Front littransflective material 20 presents product information in oneorientation by interaction with light entering through the front ofhousing 18 and reflecting from the material. Backlit transflectivematerial 22 presents product information in a second orientation byillumination with backlight 24 through the material. Illumination ofbacklight 24 suppresses the presentation of product information bytransreflective material 20.

Backlight 24 is selectively powered with a backlight power source 26 byan orientation selector, such as a mount switch 28, accelerometer/tiltswitch 30, manual selection switch 32 or processing component controlledinterface like orientation interface 36 supported by the informationhandling system BIOS 34. Mount switch 28 detects insertion ofinformation handling system 10 into mount 14, such as with a plungerthat activates by the weight of information handling system 10 or anelectrical connection that completes a circuit. Activation of mountswitch 28 may turn the backlight on or off, depending upon theorientation of the product information of the backlight material withthe information handling system. Accelerometer/tilt switch 30 detectsgravitational acceleration to determine the orientation of informationhandling system 10 and applies or suspends power to backlight 24 topresent the product information with an appropriate alignment to theinformation handling system orientation. User activated switch 32 allowsmanual user selection of product information alignment, such as with apower switch integrated in the product badge. Similarly, orientationinterface 36 allows user selection of product information orientation byCMOS control of backlight power application.

In one embodiment, backlit material 22 is selectively illuminated bydirecting existing backlight to the material. Referring now to FIGS. 4and 5, a portable information handling system 10 is depicted having ahousing 12 that pivots from a closed position to an open position withthe open position exposing an LCD panel 38. In the closed positiondepicted by FIG. 4, product badge 16 is affixed to housing 12 to facethe user as the user prepares to open the lid. If the orientation ofproduct badge 16 is unchanged as the lid is opened, the productinformation will appear inverted. However, as depicted by FIG. 5, byaltering the orientation of the product information by 180 degrees whenthe lid is open, the product information appears in an uprightorientation. Referring now to FIG. 6, the selection of the productinformation orientation is automatically determined based on lidposition by using the light 40 of LCD panel 38 to illuminate productbadge 16 when LCD panel 38 is open and powered. LCD panel light 40provides light to LCD panel 38 through a light guide 42. Illumination ofLCD panel 38 automatically illuminates product badge 16 through anopening 44 so that backlit material 22 presents the product informationwith a desired orientation.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

1. A method for selecting the orientation of a display of productinformation on a product, the product comprising a portable informationhandling system having a lid, the lid having a display lit by abacklight, the method comprising: coupling a product badge to theproduct, the product badge displaying the product information at a firstorientation relative to the product by presenting the product badge onthe lid with the lid closed, the product badge in the first orientation;resting the product in an offset product orientation offset from theproduct first orientation by rotating the lid from a closed position toan open position; powering the information handling system to presentinformation on the display; illuminating the product badge to selectdisplay of the product information at a second orientation relative tothe product, the second orientation associated with the offset productorientation by illuminating the product badge with the display backlightto display the product badge in the second orientation; and rotating thelid from the open to the closed position, the backlight automaticallyextinguished in the closed position to present the product informationin the first orientation.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the productinformation comprises a manufacturer logo.
 3. A method for selecting theorientation of a display of product information on a product, the methodcomprising: coupling a product badge to the product, the product badgedisplaying the product information at a first orientation relative tothe product; resting the product in an offset product orientation offsetfrom the product first orientation; illuminating the product badge toselect display of the product information at a second orientationrelative to the product, the second orientation associated with theoffset product orientation; automatically detecting the productorientation; powering a backlight to illuminate the product badge if theoffset product orientation is detected; and suspending power to thebacklight if the first product orientation is detected.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the product comprises an information handling system andautomatically detecting further comprises: supporting the informationhandling system in the offset orientation with a mount; and activating amount switch when the information handling system rests in the mount. 5.The method of claim 3 wherein automatically detecting further comprises:detecting the axis of gravitational acceleration; and comparing thegravitational acceleration with the first and offset orientations.